Regal touch to the Monsoon Cup

The rest of the world may be going berserk over cricket, but here at Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, sailing is the talk of the town.

The rest of the world may be going berserk over cricket, but here at Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, sailing is the talk of the town. Surrounded by the South China Sea on three sides, a coastline of 225 kilometres and a tailor-made climate for the monsoon lovers, Terengganu is, indeed the perfect destination to host the grand finale of the Alpari world match racing tour.

The Monsoon Cup set sail at the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa, Pulau Dyong, on Monday. And for a city where there is no shortage of royalty, it was only fitting that His Royal Highness Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin inaugurated the Coronation Cup, the event’s curtain raiser. Thousands of people flocked to witness the opening ceremony of the Monsoon Cup, which is the country’s second biggest sporting event after the Malaysian F1Grand Prix.

Featuring 12 teams, the final leg will start on Tuesday. Swede Bjorn Hansen is currently atop with a meagre 2.25 point lead over second-placed Ian Williams, the defending champion.

Though Hansen and Williams are touted as the most likely winners of this year’s title, stats suggest that the top eight teams have a chance of laying their hands on the prestigious cup.